Paul McGrath Media Centre

Minister refuses to meet deputation from Westmeath County Council
Deputy Paul McGrath expressed his disappointment that the Minster for Health, Micheál Martin TD has refused to meet a deputation from Westmeath County Council to discuss the future development of Mullingar General Hospital.
"The refusal of the Minister to meet a group of elected representatives from Westmeath paints a bleak picture for the future of this hospital," says Deputy Paul McGrath.
"Surely, if there was good news the Minister would have been anxious to deliver this message.
"When the Minister’s letter of refusal was read at the Council Meeting it was greeted with silence and disbelief by the Fianna Fáil councillors.
"That the Minister should ignore a reasonable request from Westmeath County Council was a major embarrassment for them," says Deputy McGrath.

"Young drivers get a raw deal," says Deputy McGrath
Deputy Paul McGrath expressed his surprise and disappointment that insurance companies have been found to be making more profit on young drivers under 25 years of age than on almost any other category of driver.
"The cost of insurance for young drivers is extremely high and in many cases prohibitive," says Deputy Paul McGrath. "I find it incredible that insurance companies should target these young people to enhance company profits.
"This information has come from a report on the Motor Advisory Insurance Board which looked at ‘the books’ of the largest insurance companies and it questions the idea that drivers under 25 years were a non profitable risk," says Deputy McGrath.
"The report reveals that insurers make an average profit of £211 per head on drivers aged 22-24 between 1993 and 1997. The report also shows that young female drivers aged 19 and 20 delivered a profit of £730 to their insurers," says McGrath.
"This report also questions why some companies refuse to quote for drivers under 30 and in some instances give quotations which are totally prohibitive.
"I acknowledge the very high carnage on our Irish roads and the fact that more than 50 young drivers (under 25) were killed in accidents in 1998 is very frightening. The high level of admissions to casualty units is also a clear indication that this age group are prone to accidents," says McGrath.
"Fine Gael launched a policy document on young drivers and the cost of car insurance some time ago and this document outlined a positive approach on the need for young drivers to improve their skills. The proposals included

the provision of subsidised driving lessons

a payment of £300 to those who had completed a proper training course

a reduction by insurance companies for those who had completed this course.

"Driving lessons should also include night driving experience as well as lessons on dual carriageways and motorways," says Deputy McGrath.
"With our roads becoming more crowded, proper driving tuition must be encouraged," says McGrath.
"I call on the Government to put in place a programme to reduce insurance costs for young drivers and to stop insurance companies ripping off young drivers," says Paul McGrath.

Waste Management (Amendment) Bill 2001
Deputy Paul McGrath expressed his concerns at the recently published Waste Management (Amendment) Bill 2001.
"In this proposed legislation the Minster for the Environment wants to take the decision making process on waste management away from County Councillors," says Deputy McGrath.
"This is not only undemocratic but it also proposes to give to County Managers the power to make and adopt any waste management plan."
"Westmeath County Council already adopted a waste management plan for the midlands but with new powers to be given to the County Managers this plan can be changed without the consent of the Councillors."
"In fact," says Deputy McGrath, "since Westmeath is in with four other local authorities for Waste Management purposes the situation could arise whereby the five managers of these counties would be deciding on the location of perhaps a new land-fill or an incinerator without any reference to the elected representatives," says Deputy Paul McGrath.
"This legislation, while providing for a levy on plastic shopping bags, a levy on landfill waste and the creation of an Environmental Fund from these levies, does nothing to promote the reduction, reuse and recycling of waste products.
"At a time when only 9 per cent of our waste is recycled surely the Minister should be devoting his energies to promoting recycling rather that over-riding elected representatives and granting additional wide sweeping powers to County Managers," says McGrath.

FMD outbreak - local tragedy could become national calamity says McGrath
Fine Gael Deputy Spokesperson on Finance today called for everything possible to be done to contain FMD.
"Confirmation of this outbreak in the Cooley peninsula is a major blow nationally and to farmers in the Cooley area. The initial priority must be to contain this outbreak. We need to know, as quickly as possible, how it has spread that far. We must find the reason and eradicate it. It is even more important that the new and extended exclusion zone which the Minister has set up is made as watertight and impenetrable as possible.
"If anything needs to be done to support people in Cooley in the difficulties they will face, not just difficulties of physical movement but difficulties in earning their living, those measures should be put in place. It should be a part of this operation to ensure, as far as possible, that the effects on the people in the immediate area are minimised and that their needs are met.
"The Minister must outline any plans for contiguous vaccination in the areas surrounding the extended exclusion zone. All the measures in place throughout the country must be reconfirmed and strengthened. The controls on movement of livestock must be scrupulously observed and rigidly implemented. The provisions taken for disinfection must be beefed up because we cannot afford to take chances. The people of Westmeath have been very vigilant in the provision of disease control mats and now a renewed effort is called for," says Deputy McGrath.
"There must be no question now of relax restrictions in advice given to the population to help in prevention of the spread of this disease. We also need assurance that the UK authorities are taking all the measures possible to prevent spread of the disease.
"The main source of this disease is still on the other side of the Irish Sea. We continue to be at risk as long as new outbreaks continue in Great Britain and not just from the infection there already but from other vectors. We must insist that the UK authorities apply more stringent controls at points of exit from Great Britain to Northern Ireland and if necessary at points of entry into Northern Ireland," said Mr McGrath.

"Schools to benefit from new rules on donations to charity," says McGrath
Deputy Paul McGrath welcomed the new measures introduced in the Finance Bill 2001 whereby donations to schools can now attract tax relief.
"This is the first time that Primary and Second Level Schools have been included for such a scheme and it is very welcome," says Deputy Paul McGrath.
"The scheme will come into effect in April and will work in such a way that if a taxpayer makes a donation to a school, then that gift is allowable for tax purposes.
Examples:

If a taxpayer on the 20 per cent rate makes a donation of £300 to the local school the Revenue Commissioners will refund £75 to that school making the donation up to £375.

If a taxpayer on the 20 per cent rate makes a donation of £200 the Revenue Commissioners will make a refund of £50 making the donation up to £250.
If a taxpayer on the 42 per cent tax rate make a donation of £580, the Revenue Commissioners will refund a further £420 making the donation up to £1,000.
If a taxpayer on the 42 per cent tax rate makes a donation of £200 to his local school the Revenue Commissioners will refund a further £144.82 to that school bringing the donation up to £344.82.
If a taxpayer who pays tax at the 42 per cent rate makes a donation of £290 to his local school, the Revenue Commissioners will refund a further £210 to that school making that donation up to £500.

"The tax refunds are made directly to the school at the end of the tax year and can be used at the discretion of the school authorities.
"Tax payers on the self-assessment basis can claim the relief on their accounts and corporate donations can be treated as a trading expense.
"The minimum donation in any one year has been set at £200 and there is no maximum level!
"I welcome this measure," says Deputy Paul McGrath, "and I hope that it will help provide much needed finance to our local schools.

Taxi licence fees reduced
Deputy Paul McGrath, in response to a Parliamentary Question, has been informed that a revised licence renewal fee of £100 has been introduced to take effect from 21st November 2000.
"A further measure has also been introduced in the Finance Bill 2001 to help taxi owners who were particularly effected by deregulation to write off the costs of taxi plates against tax over a five year period," says Deputy McGrath.
"Many taxi owners were particularly badly hit by deregulations and they have all seen their incomes reduced and these measures go some small way towards helping them," says Deputy McGrath.

Phase 2B of Mullingar General Hospital still awaiting response
Deputy Paul McGrath again expressed his concerns at the delay in sanctioning Phase 2B of Mullingar General Hospital.
"This project is currently running about 12 months behind the agreed schedule and the Minister for Health again confirmed to me in the Dáil on 6th March that the submission from the Midland Health Board was ‘currently under consideration’," says Deputy Paul McGrath.
"Phase 2B of Mullingar General Hospital will provide much needed additional beds and the delay in approving the appointment of a design team further delays the bringing on stream of these additional beds."
"At a recent County Council Meeting Senator Donnie Cassidy said there was ‘no delay’ on this project but this is at variance with the time scale outlined at the launch of the Phase 2B project at Mullingar General Hospital last May," says Deputy Paul McGrath.
"I will continue to raise this matter with the Minister in the Dáil at every opportunity," says Deputy Paul McGrath.
Foot & Mouth Disease Crisis
by Deputy Paul McGrath, Fine Gael Deputy Spokesperson on Finance
The food sector, employing approximately 200,000 people and with an annual output of approximately £11 billion annually plays a crucial role in the economy of our country.
And so it was with shock and anxiety that news of a Foot and Mouth outbreak in the UK and later in South Armagh spread across the country.
Slowly, measures were put in place to counteract the further spread of the disease and the grim reality of the consequences of the disease reaching our country became widespread.
Despite early assurances from the Minister for Agriculture that "a ring of steel" was in place, nonetheless real stories of the movement of people from the UK to here and across the Border were rampant.
This focus on our food industry has exposed many gaps in our approach to food safety and traceability.

How were sheep able to move so freely from Carlisle to Northern Ireland and then to Athleague?
Were these sheep then slaughtered to be exported as "Irish Lamb"?
Why were they made to arrive in the factory at 4am? How did the pre-slaughter inspections miss the tag marks in the animals' ears?
Why were there cheques regularly made out to "fictitious names" by meat factories even though a formal complaint about such practices was made to the Department of Agriculture more than a year ago?
When will the rogue operators who threaten the very future of the food industry in Ireland be apprehended?

While we all hope and pray and do our utmost to ensure that Foot and Mouth Disease does not come into our country we must also work with the Department of Agriculture and the Garda Authorities to expose the rogue operators - the people who for personal gain were prepared to put the jobs of thousands of people at risk and indeed jeopardise our economy.
Finally, I wish to commend all those - shops, schools, County Councils, farmers and individuals who, by providing disinfectant areas at their properties, have helped to prevent the spread of the dreaded disease.
I also commend the many organisations - sporting and otherwise, who have cancelled and curtailed activities, thereby cutting down on the risk of spreading the virus. If we continue to be vigilant we can prevent an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in our country.
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	Minister refuses to meet deputation from Westmeath County Council Deputy Paul McGrath expressed his disappointment that the Minster for Health, Micheál Martin TD has refused to meet a deputation from Westmeath County Council to discuss the future development of Mullingar General Hospital. "The refusal of the Minister to meet a group of elected representatives from Westmeath paints a bleak picture for the future of this hospital," says Deputy Paul McGrath. "Surely, if there was good news the Minister would have been anxious to deliver this message. "When the Minister’s letter of refusal was read at the Council Meeting it was greeted with silence and disbelief by the Fianna Fáil councillors. "That the Minister should ignore a reasonable request from Westmeath County Council was a major embarrassment for them," says Deputy McGrath.
	"Young drivers get a raw deal," says Deputy McGrath Deputy Paul McGrath expressed his surprise and disappointment that insurance companies have been found to be making more profit on young drivers under 25 years of age than on almost any other category of driver. "The cost of insurance for young drivers is extremely high and in many cases prohibitive," says Deputy Paul McGrath. "I find it incredible that insurance companies should target these young people to enhance company profits. "This information has come from a report on the Motor Advisory Insurance Board which looked at ‘the books’ of the largest insurance companies and it questions the idea that drivers under 25 years were a non profitable risk," says Deputy McGrath. "The report reveals that insurers make an average profit of £211 per head on drivers aged 22-24 between 1993 and 1997. The report also shows that young female drivers aged 19 and 20 delivered a profit of £730 to their insurers," says McGrath. "This report also questions why some companies refuse to quote for drivers under 30 and in some instances give quotations which are totally prohibitive. "I acknowledge the very high carnage on our Irish roads and the fact that more than 50 young drivers (under 25) were killed in accidents in 1998 is very frightening. The high level of admissions to casualty units is also a clear indication that this age group are prone to accidents," says McGrath. "Fine Gael launched a policy document on young drivers and the cost of car insurance some time ago and this document outlined a positive approach on the need for young drivers to improve their skills. The proposals included the provision of subsidised driving lessons a payment of £300 to those who had completed a proper training course a reduction by insurance companies for those who had completed this course. "Driving lessons should also include night driving experience as well as lessons on dual carriageways and motorways," says Deputy McGrath. "With our roads becoming more crowded, proper driving tuition must be encouraged," says McGrath. "I call on the Government to put in place a programme to reduce insurance costs for young drivers and to stop insurance companies ripping off young drivers," says Paul McGrath.
	Waste Management (Amendment) Bill 2001 Deputy Paul McGrath expressed his concerns at the recently published Waste Management (Amendment) Bill 2001. "In this proposed legislation the Minster for the Environment wants to take the decision making process on waste management away from County Councillors," says Deputy McGrath. "This is not only undemocratic but it also proposes to give to County Managers the power to make and adopt any waste management plan." "Westmeath County Council already adopted a waste management plan for the midlands but with new powers to be given to the County Managers this plan can be changed without the consent of the Councillors." "In fact," says Deputy McGrath, "since Westmeath is in with four other local authorities for Waste Management purposes the situation could arise whereby the five managers of these counties would be deciding on the location of perhaps a new land-fill or an incinerator without any reference to the elected representatives," says Deputy Paul McGrath. "This legislation, while providing for a levy on plastic shopping bags, a levy on landfill waste and the creation of an Environmental Fund from these levies, does nothing to promote the reduction, reuse and recycling of waste products. "At a time when only 9 per cent of our waste is recycled surely the Minister should be devoting his energies to promoting recycling rather that over-riding elected representatives and granting additional wide sweeping powers to County Managers," says McGrath.
	FMD outbreak - local tragedy could become national calamity says McGrath Fine Gael Deputy Spokesperson on Finance today called for everything possible to be done to contain FMD. "Confirmation of this outbreak in the Cooley peninsula is a major blow nationally and to farmers in the Cooley area. The initial priority must be to contain this outbreak. We need to know, as quickly as possible, how it has spread that far. We must find the reason and eradicate it. It is even more important that the new and extended exclusion zone which the Minister has set up is made as watertight and impenetrable as possible. "If anything needs to be done to support people in Cooley in the difficulties they will face, not just difficulties of physical movement but difficulties in earning their living, those measures should be put in place. It should be a part of this operation to ensure, as far as possible, that the effects on the people in the immediate area are minimised and that their needs are met. "The Minister must outline any plans for contiguous vaccination in the areas surrounding the extended exclusion zone. All the measures in place throughout the country must be reconfirmed and strengthened. The controls on movement of livestock must be scrupulously observed and rigidly implemented. The provisions taken for disinfection must be beefed up because we cannot afford to take chances. The people of Westmeath have been very vigilant in the provision of disease control mats and now a renewed effort is called for," says Deputy McGrath. "There must be no question now of relax restrictions in advice given to the population to help in prevention of the spread of this disease. We also need assurance that the UK authorities are taking all the measures possible to prevent spread of the disease. "The main source of this disease is still on the other side of the Irish Sea. We continue to be at risk as long as new outbreaks continue in Great Britain and not just from the infection there already but from other vectors. We must insist that the UK authorities apply more stringent controls at points of exit from Great Britain to Northern Ireland and if necessary at points of entry into Northern Ireland," said Mr McGrath.
	"Schools to benefit from new rules on donations to charity," says McGrath Deputy Paul McGrath welcomed the new measures introduced in the Finance Bill 2001 whereby donations to schools can now attract tax relief. "This is the first time that Primary and Second Level Schools have been included for such a scheme and it is very welcome," says Deputy Paul McGrath. "The scheme will come into effect in April and will work in such a way that if a taxpayer makes a donation to a school, then that gift is allowable for tax purposes. Examples: If a taxpayer on the 20 per cent rate makes a donation of £300 to the local school the Revenue Commissioners will refund £75 to that school making the donation up to £375. If a taxpayer on the 20 per cent rate makes a donation of £200 the Revenue Commissioners will make a refund of £50 making the donation up to £250. If a taxpayer on the 42 per cent tax rate make a donation of £580, the Revenue Commissioners will refund a further £420 making the donation up to £1,000. If a taxpayer on the 42 per cent tax rate makes a donation of £200 to his local school the Revenue Commissioners will refund a further £144.82 to that school bringing the donation up to £344.82. If a taxpayer who pays tax at the 42 per cent rate makes a donation of £290 to his local school, the Revenue Commissioners will refund a further £210 to that school making that donation up to £500. "The tax refunds are made directly to the school at the end of the tax year and can be used at the discretion of the school authorities. "Tax payers on the self-assessment basis can claim the relief on their accounts and corporate donations can be treated as a trading expense. "The minimum donation in any one year has been set at £200 and there is no maximum level! "I welcome this measure," says Deputy Paul McGrath, "and I hope that it will help provide much needed finance to our local schools.
	Taxi licence fees reduced Deputy Paul McGrath, in response to a Parliamentary Question, has been informed that a revised licence renewal fee of £100 has been introduced to take effect from 21st November 2000. "A further measure has also been introduced in the Finance Bill 2001 to help taxi owners who were particularly effected by deregulation to write off the costs of taxi plates against tax over a five year period," says Deputy McGrath. "Many taxi owners were particularly badly hit by deregulations and they have all seen their incomes reduced and these measures go some small way towards helping them," says Deputy McGrath.
	Phase 2B of Mullingar General Hospital still awaiting response Deputy Paul McGrath again expressed his concerns at the delay in sanctioning Phase 2B of Mullingar General Hospital. "This project is currently running about 12 months behind the agreed schedule and the Minister for Health again confirmed to me in the Dáil on 6th March that the submission from the Midland Health Board was ‘currently under consideration’," says Deputy Paul McGrath. "Phase 2B of Mullingar General Hospital will provide much needed additional beds and the delay in approving the appointment of a design team further delays the bringing on stream of these additional beds." "At a recent County Council Meeting Senator Donnie Cassidy said there was ‘no delay’ on this project but this is at variance with the time scale outlined at the launch of the Phase 2B project at Mullingar General Hospital last May," says Deputy Paul McGrath. "I will continue to raise this matter with the Minister in the Dáil at every opportunity," says Deputy Paul McGrath.
	Foot & Mouth Disease Crisis by Deputy Paul McGrath, Fine Gael Deputy Spokesperson on Finance The food sector, employing approximately 200,000 people and with an annual output of approximately £11 billion annually plays a crucial role in the economy of our country. And so it was with shock and anxiety that news of a Foot and Mouth outbreak in the UK and later in South Armagh spread across the country. Slowly, measures were put in place to counteract the further spread of the disease and the grim reality of the consequences of the disease reaching our country became widespread. Despite early assurances from the Minister for Agriculture that "a ring of steel" was in place, nonetheless real stories of the movement of people from the UK to here and across the Border were rampant. This focus on our food industry has exposed many gaps in our approach to food safety and traceability. How were sheep able to move so freely from Carlisle to Northern Ireland and then to Athleague? Were these sheep then slaughtered to be exported as "Irish Lamb"? Why were they made to arrive in the factory at 4am? How did the pre-slaughter inspections miss the tag marks in the animals' ears? Why were there cheques regularly made out to "fictitious names" by meat factories even though a formal complaint about such practices was made to the Department of Agriculture more than a year ago? When will the rogue operators who threaten the very future of the food industry in Ireland be apprehended? While we all hope and pray and do our utmost to ensure that Foot and Mouth Disease does not come into our country we must also work with the Department of Agriculture and the Garda Authorities to expose the rogue operators - the people who for personal gain were prepared to put the jobs of thousands of people at risk and indeed jeopardise our economy. Finally, I wish to commend all those - shops, schools, County Councils, farmers and individuals who, by providing disinfectant areas at their properties, have helped to prevent the spread of the dreaded disease. I also commend the many organisations - sporting and otherwise, who have cancelled and curtailed activities, thereby cutting down on the risk of spreading the virus. If we continue to be vigilant we can prevent an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in our country. Return to Media Centre